九年級英語課外閱讀文章
初中英語課外閱讀材料
.閱讀是運用語言文字來獲取信息、認識世界、發展思維，並獲得審美體驗與知識的活動。它是從視覺材料中獲取信息的過程。視覺材料主要是文字和圖片，也包括符號、公式、圖表等。下面是我精心整理的初中英語課外閱讀材料，歡迎大家分享。
參考翻譯
樹林里有兩個山羊村。來自上村莊和下層村莊的山羊彼此不喜歡。有一天，一隻山羊從上村和下村在一個獨木橋上相互往來。獨木橋
兩只山羊在打架以先被抓住。從下村的山羊說，「因為我第一次來到這里，我應該先過橋。」
頑強地，從上村的山羊說：「對不起，但我是第一個到達的。我先過橋!」兩只山羊都不肯讓步。
「唷!唷!」他們戰斗的對接彼此的角。」我決不讓步。「我也不屈服!」兩只山羊一直走到最後。戰斗的時候，他們的喇叭最終被對方糾纏住了。
在那一刻，從上村的山羊錯過了他的步驟。於是另一隻山羊也滑下懸崖。兩只山羊被粗糙的流水沖走了，漂走了。咩咩!救救我!」兩只山羊從橋上摔下來，因為他們不向另一隻屈服。
;⑵ 初三英語作文：關於課外閱讀
這樣行嗎？
⑶ 課外的英語閱讀文章
我們提高英語的水平寢室有很多種，有一種就是可以看一些英語的新聞和閱讀，還有英語的電視劇和電影，這樣可以很快的提高我們的英語口語，接下來我給大家帶來英語新聞，需要的同學們可以看一看。
課外閱讀1
Apple has entered the textbook market. The tech giant introced iBooks textbooks a couple ofweeks ago when it announced its iBooks 2 platform.
幾周前，蘋果公司在iBooks 2平台的發布會上正式推出iBooks，此舉表明這一科技巨頭正式進軍教科書市場。
They are digital books in a variety of subjects from astronomy to zoology taking in science, maths, history and geography.
電子教科書涵蓋了從天文學到動物學等多種主題，包括科學，數學，歷史和地理等科目。
Apple developed its iPad-based textbooks in conjunction with major textbook publishers. Thecompany offers a collection of textbooks for high school students.
蘋果同一些知名教科書出版商展開合作，研發基於iPad平台的教科書。目前蘋果已經推出了一套高中電子教材。
Apple claims it offers a "new textbook experience" and suggests its interactive iBooks textbooksare "the next chapter in learning".
蘋果表示將創造一場 “教科書新體驗”，並暗示這種互動式的電子教科書將會“開啟學習的新篇章”。
It sounds like good news for pupils and students. Think of it. No more carrying heavy backpacksfull of textbooks. Every textbook you require can be stored on your iPad.
這聽上去對於中小學生來說是個好消息。想想看，不用再背著裝滿課本的，沉甸甸的書包，因為所有書都可以儲存在你的iPad里。
No more having to buy expensive textbooks which you will only use for a year or two and thensell or give away.
也不必再去買那些昂貴的課本，這些課本只能用一兩年，之後不是賣掉，就是送人。
Of course there's a catch. You need to own an iPad and as you know, it is not cheap. You alsoneed to buy digital textbooks, mostly priced each at $14.99 (94.74 yuan) or less.
當然凡事有利就有弊。你需要擁有一部iPad，眾所周知其價格不菲。此外你還要買電子課本，大多數定價不高於14.99美元(合94.74元人民幣)。
Textbook publishing was worth $8.7 billion in the US alone last year. Will digital books take overcompletely in ecation?
去年，單是美國的教科書出版業的市值就達到87億美元。那麼電子書將會徹底搶占整個教育市場嗎?
Is learning going to evolve into something we do on an electronic tablet computer? You canappreciate the attractions.
我們正步入用平板電腦的學習時代嗎?你可以感受到這其中的魅力所在。
Instead of boring old textbooks which are quickly out of date you can have an interactivelearning experience.
隨著那些無聊又陳舊的課本被迅速淘汰，你便可以體驗到互動學習的樂趣。
You can play videos, examine geometrical problems in 3D, listen to music and commentary, make notes and mark passages electronically. You can also share stuff on social networkingsites with fellow students.
你可以播放視頻，利用3D來解析幾何難題，收聽音樂以及評論，在電子屏幕上記筆記，做文章注釋，還可以與同學在社交網站上分享資料。
課外閱讀2
There have always been people who have believed that lifelong learning is a worthwhileprocess. Increasingly, scientific research is proving them correct and technology is making iteasier – alts can now take online college classes for the rest of their lives. Even better, thisprocess makes the neighboring areas of the brain more resilient as well. This means thatlearning can make what you already know stronger, too.
總是很多人都認為，要活到老學到老，終身學習是值得的。科學研究不斷發現，這種想法是正確的。並且科學技術正使得這種想法實現起來更加簡單——成年人現在就可以在網上學習大學的課程，想學多長時間都可以。更妙的是，學習的這個過程會讓大腦的分周邊區域也更加富有彈性，這意味著學習也會讓你更深入地了解已經知道的內容。
So, without further ado, here are ten more reasons why you should always keep learning:
因此，事不宜遲，看看你應該持續學習的十個理由吧。
1.Fight Boredom. Most people feel bored when they aren't challenged and boredom is thenumber one cause of bad decisions. If you're constantly learning new things, you'll be lessprone to disinterest. And, in today's world, there are plenty of opportunities to enrichyourself.
1.打發無聊時光。當覺得所做的工作沒有挑戰性時，大部分人就會感到無聊。而無聊是做出糟糕決策的首要原因。如果你在不斷地學習新的內容，一般是不會興趣索然的。在當今的世界中，你有很無數的機會來充實自己。
2.Keep Your Brain Healthy. A 2010 study out of the University of California at Irvine revealedthat learning keeps your brain functioning at a high level. Just like you need to exercise yourbody's muscles and cardiovascular system, you need to exercise your brain to keep it in tip-topshape.
2.讓大腦保持健康。2010年在加州大學歐文分校的一項研究表明，學習會讓你的大腦以較高的水平進行運轉。就像你需要鍛煉身體肌肉和心血管系統一樣，你也需要鍛煉大腦，讓它處於最佳狀態。
3.Grow Your Career. If you learn new work-related skills, you'll be more likely to get apromotion or raise. And, with the rise of online ecation, you can even enroll in certifiedprograms that allow you to learn and improve your career ring your off-hours.
3.發展事業。 如果你學習和工作相關的新技能，你更有可能加薪升職。並且，隨著在線教育的崛起，你甚至可以參加認證課程，在下班時間里學習和改善自己的職業生涯。
4. Model Positive Behavior for Your Kids. If you expect your children to focus in school and takethe time to learn their lessons, you should exhibit the same commitment to self-improvement in your daily life.
4.為你的孩子樹立積極的行為榜樣。如果你希望孩子在學校里能專心學習並花時間去學習課程，在日常生活里，你也應該致力於自我改善。
5. Fight Alzheimer's Disease. According to Science Daily, continued learning can slow thephysical process of Alzheimer's Disease. You'll be healthier longer.
5.對抗老年痴呆症。據《每日科學》報道，持續學習會減慢老年痴呆症的物理變化過程。 這樣你身體健康的時間會更長一些。
6. Keep in Touch With The World. If you don't know the latest fashion, comedy and newstrends, you'll sound outdated and out-of-touch. By trying new things and learning new ideas, you'll better be able to relate to those around you.
6.與世界同步。如果你不知道最新的流行趨勢、喜劇和新聞，人們就會覺得你落伍了。嘗試一些新的事物，學習一些新的想法，你能更好地處理身邊的關系。
7. Find and Increase Your Pleasure. Learning isn't necessarily a chore. If you're interested in ahobby such as cooking, learning new recipes and cooking processes can be enjoyable. It canmake you appreciate your hobby even more.
7.發現並增加自己的樂趣。學習並不一定是枯燥的。如果你有某種愛好比如廚藝，學學新的菜譜和做菜的流程，會讓你感覺很愉快。這樣你會更加喜歡自己的愛好。
8. Look at the World with Fresh Eyes. Scientists believe that much of what is called creativity issimply the ability to apply skills learned in one setting to problems in another setting. If you'realways learning, this means that when you face a familiar problem, you may be able to come atit with an unorthodox solution, based on your new knowledge.
8.用嶄新的視角來觀察世界。 科學家們相信，所謂創造性，絕大程度上是把一種環境中學到的技能應用到了另外一種環境中。如果你總在學習，那麼當你遇到一個熟悉的問題時，你很可能利用所學的新知識，使用一種非傳統的解決方案來解決問題。
9. Keep Abreast of Technology. Computers become obsolete within a few years. If you're notconstantly learning new things about technology, you're falling behind. Which means you'llmiss out on social, business and technological opportunities, simply because you didn't keepup.
9.緊跟科技潮流。計算機在幾年內就可能過時。如果你不經常學習和科技相關的新事物，那你就落伍了。你會錯過社交、商業和科技上的機遇，而這一切僅僅是因為你沒有跟上科技的潮流而已。
10.All the Greats are Doing It. Think of anyone, in any field, who is truly brilliant at what theydo. They got where they are through constant self-improvement. Truly talented people areconstantly learning and implementing new skills. It's worth joining them in this passion.
10.所有的成功人士都在學。隨便想想，在任何領域非常突出的人士，他們都是通過不斷的自我提高才成功的。真正有才華的人們都在不斷地學習並應用新的技能。和他們一樣保持學習的激情，是非常值得的。
There are plenty of fabulous reasons to keep learning new things, regardless of what they are. Forming new connections in your brain doesn't have to be difficult, though it would certainly bea good idea to make sure it was some of the time. Now, it’s time to go out there and just do it.
⑷ 英語課外閱讀理解帶翻譯(600字)
Mum and Childhood Days母親與童年時光
Text(正文):When you came into the world, she held you in her arms. You thanked her by weeping your eyes out.
When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you. You thanked her by crying all night long.
When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. You thanked her by running away when she called.
When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love. You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.
When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons. You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.
When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays. You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.
When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school. You thanked her by screaming, 「I'M NOT GOING!」
When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball. You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor's window.
When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream. You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.
When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons. You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.
When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one birthday party after another. You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.
母親與童年時光
你來到人世時，她把你抱在懷里。而你對她的感恩回報，就是像報喪女妖一樣哭得天昏地暗。
你1歲時，她為你哺乳，為你沐浴。而你對她的感恩回報，就是啼哭鬧騰，徹夜不休。
你2歲時，她教你走路。而你對她的感恩回報，就是一聽到她呼喚就遠遠跑開。
你3歲時，她滿懷愛心為你准備三餐。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把盤子扔到地上。
你4歲時，她給你幾支蠟筆。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把餐桌塗成了大花臉。
你5歲時，她在節日里為你精心打扮。而你對她的感恩回報，就是撲通一聲摔進旁邊一堆泥巴里。
你6歲時，她步行送你去上學。而你對她的感恩回報，就是對她大聲尖叫： 「我就是不去！」
你7歲時，她給你買來個棒球。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把隔壁鄰居家的窗戶砸破。
你8歲時，她遞給你一支冰淇淋。而你對她的感恩回報，就是把冰淇淋滴落得滿腿都是。
你9歲時，她掏錢讓你學鋼琴。而你對她的感恩回報，就是從來都懶得練一下。
你10歲時，她整天忙著開車送你去這去那，從足球場到體操房，又趕著參加一個又一個的生日宴會。而你對她的感恩回報，就是跳下車頭也不回地就走了。
⑸ 求初中英語課外閱讀一篇
A PRIVATE CONVERSATION
Last week I went to the theatre.I had a very good seat.The play was very interesting.I did not enjoy it.A young man and a young woman were sitting behind me.They were talking loudly.I got very angry.Icould not hear the actors.I turned round.I looked at the man and the woman angrily They did not pay any attention.In the end,I could
not bear it.I turned round again.'I con't hear a word!'I said angrily.
'It's none of your business,'the young man said rudely.'This is a private conversation!'
1 Where did the writer go last week?
2 Did he enjoy the play or not ?
3 Could the writer hear the actor or not?
1 go to the theatre 去看戲
2 I could not bear it.我無法忍受
3 none of your business 不管你的事
你自己翻譯吧很簡單
⑹ 課外閱讀英語短文帶翻譯
英語閱讀，是英語學習和英語教學中的一個重要環節，它是我們獲取知識、外界信息，與外界交流的主要途徑之一。我整理了課外英語短文帶翻譯，歡迎閱讀!
課外英語短文帶翻譯篇一
On Saturday, the weather is sunny, cloudless sky, a group of birds chattering in the trees, as if to we hear singing hit song. At this moment, I saw a little sparrows on our car.
Father rushed the sparrow away, but the little sparrow or motionless parked in the car. Jumped up and down in a moment, my father caught the little sparrows, at this time, I carefully looked at the little sparrow, its feathers have not full long, also not too will fly, only walking up and down on the car. I said to my father: "dad, you don't catch! We should protect animals, not hurt them, this is wrong." Say that finish, I heard the tree sparrow kept calling, as if to say: "put a small sparrow, put it!" So my father gently sparrow on the branches, let the little sparrow in the nature of life freely. The sparrows on the tree one see we put the little sparrow, chattering again, as if to say to me: "you are such a good child to protect animals."
If no animal nature, all things, there is no life, if there is no grass plants, herbivorous animals can't live forever. Start from today, to protect the animals, love life, do a little guardians of nature.
全世界有794多種野生動物，其中有76科300餘種瀕臨滅絕，還有很多已經滅絕了。人們為了錢財，不斷殺害它們，導致野生動物大量滅絕。直到“非典”事件發生，人們才覺悟起來……
野生動物對我們幫助很大，例如燕子，燕子能幫我們吧田裡的害蟲吃掉。如果沒有了它們，我們的周圍就會有很多害蟲，這些害蟲對我們人類有很大的害處呀!
有些人認為，野生動物理應被殺掉，因為有些野生動物很危險。但我想對那些人說：沒錯，有些野生動物的確很危險，但它們一般多在遠離人類的地方，所以我們不用害怕。而且有些野生動物也很可愛，例如大熊貓就很可愛，還有軟軟的絨毛。
“沒有買賣，就沒有殺害”這則公益廣告說得真好，是的，只要人們不再去銷售野生動物，就不會有人去買，更不會有被殘害的野生動物了。
同學們，雖然我們現在的力量還很薄弱，但千萬不要小看這力量。從現在開始，去保護野生動物吧，讓世界充滿和平!
課外英語短文帶翻譯篇二
The world has more than 794 kinds of wild animals, there are 76 families, 300 species endangered, there are many extinct. People for the sake of money, keep killing them, leading to a mass extinction of wild animals. Until the SARS incident, people wake...
Wild animals are of great help to us, for example, the swallow, swallow can help us to eat the pests in the field. Around if without them, we will have a lot of insects, these pests have great harm to us!
Some people think that wild animals should be killed, because some wild animals are dangerous. But I want to say to those people: yes, some wild animals is dangerous, but they are generally more away from the humans, so we don't have to fear. And some wild animals is very lovely, such as the giant panda is very cute, and soft hairs.
"No trading, no killing" the advertisement said well, yes, as long as people no longer to sell wild animals, no one will go to buy, there will be no more wild animals mutilated.
The classmates, although our strength is still very weak now, but don't look down on this power. From now on, to protect wild animals, let the world is full of peace!
在地球上，除了人類，還有什麼呢?沒錯，還有動物。可幾年下來，動物的數量逐漸下降。人類有沒有把動物當朋友看呢?
動物和人類應該是好朋友，可為什麼動物會和人類為敵呢?是因為人類沒有把動物發在眼裡。比如奶牛。人類用奶牛生產奶牛，可等奶牛沒有奶的時候，人類就會把奶牛殘忍地殺死。奶牛沒奶時，不會將它放生嗎?奶牛也是一條活生生的生命啊!近幾年的“鼠疫、艾滋病、瘋牛病、禽流感”，這些都是動物們奮起反擊的預兆呀!難道人類還要打第三次世界大戰嗎?我們的祖先就是高級動物呀!如果人類再不制止這種濫殺動物的行為，是對我們的地區母親沉重的打擊呀!
我們現在不要再破壞動物的家園，這樣動物們就可以安心繁殖後代。朋友們，還動物們一片蔚藍的天空，讓小鳥自由地飛翔;給動物一片綠草地，讓牛羊歡快地奔跑;還動物一片汪洋，讓動物無憂無慮地暢游海洋之中。也許，這樣可以安撫動物們受傷的心靈。動物原本不壞，只是人類破壞它們的家園，這些只是它們對人類的“報復”而已。
朋友們，讓我們一起保護動物吧!
課外英語短文帶翻譯篇三
Happiness is need to feel.
People felt the suantiankula in daily life, however, people often feel happy.
Students complain of too much homework, farmers complain of farm work too tired, worker complains the salary is too little, the unemployed complain without a job... So, people's face is full of complicated. Seldom found that happiness is beside him.
Whenever the confused friend of a greeting, when farmers harvest to the golden rice, hard whenever a hard day's parents see a hot cup of milk on the table, when the lonely old man received a letter from children far away... This is our happiness. Happiness always imperceptibly quietly come to your side.
In fact, happiness is a give and a kind of pay, a kind of dedication.
Happiness for us to listen, to see, to think about it. People, always remind of childhood when white-haired mother the warm eyes and tears.
Happiness is a kind of halcyon, a kind of indifferent, and often is hazy and feel with your heart, it is not gorgeous neon lights, disco is not strong, but the sky the gentle sunshine, cordial and warm caress with us.
In the usual study and life, I hope that we can learn to slowly feel happiness.
幸福是需要感受的。
人們在日常生活中感受到了酸甜苦辣，但是，人們卻經常感受不到幸福。
學生抱怨作業太多，農民抱怨農活太累，工人抱怨工資太少，失業者抱怨沒有工作……所以，人們的臉上布滿愁雲。卻很少發現幸福就在身旁。
每當到困惑時朋友的一聲問候，每當辛勤的農民收割到金燦燦的稻穀，每當辛苦了一天的父母看到桌子上一杯熱騰騰的牛奶，每當孤獨的老人收到遠方兒女的來信……這就是我們的幸福。幸福總是不知不覺中悄悄來到你的身邊。
其實，幸福是一種給予，一種付出，一種奉獻。
幸福需要我們去聽，去看，去想。人，總是在白發蒼蒼時才想起兒時母親那溫暖的目光而熱淚盈眶。
幸福更是一種寧靜，一種淡泊，又常常是朦朧而令人用心感悟的，它並不是華麗的霓虹燈，不是強勁的迪斯科，而是天際柔和的陽光，親切而溫暖地撫愛著我們。
在平時的學習、生活中，但願我們能學會慢慢感受幸福。
⑺ 初中英語課外閱讀材料
初中英語課外閱讀材料
初中課外閱讀英語不僅能擴充我們的知識面，還能幫助我們積累詞彙句型，下面是我分享的適合初中生的英語閱讀材料，歡迎大家閱讀!
初中英語閱讀材料【1】
There are over 800 boarding (寄宿) schools in the UK with students from home and foreign countries. Boarding schools started hundreds of years ago in the country. But the earliest boarding schools were set up for white, rich boys only. Now both boys and girls can go to boarding schools from the age of 7 to 18.
What to do
In the UK, boarding schools have three terms in a school year, with about 13 weeks in each term. Students study and live together. They can’t go outside if they are not allowed to. In some schools, each student has his or her subject plan. Besides the usual classrooms and laboratories, the boarding schools have lots of other facilities for their students, including music rooms, boats, swimming pools, cinemas and theatres. Most boarding schools have a “light out” time. So when it’s time to go to bed, all the lights in the bedrooms are turned off. There are house-masters to take care of students all the time, especially after school hours.
What to wear
Nearly all students at boarding schools wear a school uniform. Boys usually wear a shirt and a tie, and girls wear a white blouse, sometimes also a tie and a skirt. As students get older, the rules become less strict.
_______________
In the UK, boarding schools provide students with delicious food. They can choose to have a full English breakfast or simply bread. They can also choose between a meal with no meat and another meal at lunch and dinner. And there is always self-service for salad (沙拉), other side dishes and a dessert. Students can also make themselves something to eat at any time in a kitchen, or drink tea or have a snack between meals.
初中英語閱讀材料【2】
A friend of mine named Paul received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin (頑童) was walking around the shining car. “Is this your car, Paul?” he asked.
Paul answered, “Yes, my brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was surprised. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it cost you nothing? Boy, I wish…” He hesitated (猶豫).
Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said surprised Paul greatly.
“I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.” Paul looked at the boy in surprise, and then he said again, “Would you like to take a ride in my car?”
“Oh yes, I’d love that.”
After a short ride, the boy turned around with his eyes shining, said, “Paul, would you mind driving in front of my house?”
Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the boy wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.
He ran up to the steps. Then in a short while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled (殘疾的.) brother. He sat him down on the step and pointed to the car.
“There he is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a cent. And some day I’m going to give you one just like it…then you can see for yourself all the nice things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.”
Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed elder brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began an unforgettable holiday ride.
初中英語閱讀材料【3】
When I was a foreign teacher in China, every day I taught English to my students and they taught me about China. One day the topic turned to saying “I love you”. I was shocked to learn that not one of my students had said this to their mothers, nor had their mothers said it to them. “Does your mom love you?” “Of course,”they answered.
“How do you know ?”was my logical question. They responded that their mons cooked and always told them what they were doing wrong to show their caring. I was stunned .So mon’s cooking and criticzing read out as “I love you ”. “Then how do you say ‘I love you ’to her?” They agreed that getting good grades, followed by god jobs would be how they showed their love.
I come from a culture where most people are expressive enough, so I repeated these queries in classes over time. Graally, I began to get different response. Some of them had exchanged those sentiments with their moms.
One of my favorite stories of change came from a girl. When she came home from university, her mother met her at the door and hugged(擁抱)her. This had never happened before, but her mom said, “Now that you have gone I have more time to myself. I noticed that in some places mothers and children hug each other and I decided it was a good idea and that I would begin hugging you.”
In my family we all say “I love you” a lot .While it is true that we often say the words without having great depth of feelings at that moment, it is almost like a blessing we give each other. Those three little words carry a world of meaning ,even when said as a greeting, but most especially if they are the last words we say to or hear from those we love.
初中英語閱讀材料【4】
Green Farm offers an ideal (理想的) country setting that you and your family can enjoy. Our farm is perfect for those who live in Florida. The whole family will have a chance to enjoy the quiet country setting with more than 300 farm animals to touch and see. Visit us for a true ecation and fun experience.
Kids Love Our Critters(家畜)!
Green Farm, Ltd.
1368 South Poinciana Blvd.
Kissimmee, FL 34746
Phone: (407) 846-0770
Tours begin continuously:
between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm
Farm opens until 5:30 pm
PRICES
ADULT OR CHILD TICKET $19.00
CHILD AGED FIVE AND UNDER FREE
FLORIDA RESIDENTS (居民) $17.00
GROUPS OF TWENTY OR MORE $10.00
;⑻ 求英語課外的閱讀文章
友誼的顏色
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best.
The most important.
The most useful.
The favorite.
Green said:
"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."
Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."
Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow." And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
Translation: